Until recently, Stewart Lee was still flogging his own DVDs in the foyer after
his shows, but a couple of BBC2 series of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle and a pair of 2011 British Comedy Awards have taken him on to the next level, a state of affairs that doesn’t sit entirely comfortably with this most contrary of standups.
On Carpet Remnant World ★★★★★, Lee brilliantly plays off this awkward dichotomy, dividing his audience into those who ‘get’ his multi-layered deconstructionism and those who are only there because they’ve seen him on the telly, explaining to them: ‘I’m so good at stand-up, I make it look as if I can’t do it.’
The show’s thrust is that Lee is devoid of material, since he spends his days either driving up and down motorways to gigs or watching Scooby Doo with his young son. So he’s taken to cruising London’s North Circular in the vain hope that something funny will happen, thereby neatly mocking the observational style of comedy favoured by so many successful stand-ups.
Only Lee could get away with writing a show about not having a show, but he pulls all the threads together with such understated aplomb that you can’t help but marvel at his utterly distinct approach. Really, it’s ridiculously good.
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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John Robins, Comedian
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Keilloh, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk